59. The Māori creation story at Manea: Footprints of Kupe

Māori culture can – and should –  be experienced in all forms across the country: from the historical to the geothermal and, in some cases literally carved into the storied landscape: here is No. 59 of our 101 Reasons To Stop Dreaming About New Zealand And Go.

Located in Hokianga in the Northland/Te Tai Tokerau region of the North Island/Te Ika-a-Māui, often referred to as the cradle of the nation, Manea: Footprints of Kupe tells the Māori creation story in a multisensory 4D journey through art, taonga (treasures), film, performance, and digital interaction. After arriving at the manea whare taonga (house of treasures) and being welcomed with the ancient cultural ceremony of pōwhiri, you will follow the story of Kupe, the great Polynesian explorer described in many tribal narratives as the first Polynesian to discover the islands of Aotearoa.

The first chapter in the story of the country, told in the place where Kupe made his home and eventually departed the land, the immersive experience at Manea: Footprints of Kupe also incorporates Hokianga Harbour, its iconic sand dunes and stunning carvings, with guides sharing knowledge passed down through generations. This seamless combination of history and state-of-the-art technology allows those who visit to live the journey of Kupe as he crosses the oceans and discovers Aotearoa, and gain a better understanding of the exquisite relationship Māori have with their land.

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